Self-opening tool box

ABSTRACT

A self-opening toolbox includes a first shell, a second shell pivotally mounted on the first shell, a retainer mounted on the first shell for retaining a tool kit in position and a pivot arranged between the first shell and the second shell for pivoting the second shell with respect to the first shell. The pivot includes a first cylinder connected with the first shell, a second cylinder connected with the second shell and a torque element connected between the first and second cylinders. The torque element is received in the first cylinder and the first cylinder is received in the second cylinder. The first cylinder includes a closed end and a clip formed on an internal side of the closed end for clamping an end of the torque element. The second cylinder includes a closed end and a clip formed on an internal side of the closed end for clamping an end of the torque element.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a self-opening toolbox.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] A conventional toolbox includes a first shell, a second shellpivotally connected with the first shell and a buckle movable between alocking position for locking the second shell to the first shell and areleasing position for allowing the second shell to pivot from the firstshell. To use a tool kit contained in the toolbox, a user puts thebuckle in the releasing position and pivots the second shell from thefirst shell. The manual pivoting of the second shell could beinconvenient for the user.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide aself-opening toolbox.

[0006] According to the present invention, a self-opening toolboxincludes a first shell, a second shell pivotally mounted on the firstshell, a retainer mounted on the first shell for retaining a tool kitand a pivot arranged between the first shell and the second shell forpivoting the second shell with respect to the first shell.

[0007] The pivot includes a first cylinder connected with the firstshell, a second cylinder connected with the second shell and a torqueelement connected between the first and second cylinders. The torqueelement is received in the first cylinder and the first cylinder isreceived in the second cylinder. The first cylinder includes a closedend and a clip formed on an internal side of the closed end for clampingan end of the torque element. The second cylinder includes a closed endand a clip formed on an internal side of the closed end for clamping anend of the torque element.

[0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be described through detailedillustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the attacheddrawings wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-opening toolbox in a closedposition according to the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the self-opening toolbox shown inFIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the self-opening toolbox shownin FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except for showing the self-openingtoolbox in an un-locked position;

[0014] FIGS. 5˜7 are side views of the self-opening toolbox in differentpositions in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a self-opening toolbox according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first shell12, a second shell 20 pivotally mounted on the first shell 12, a firstretainer 11 mounted on the first shell 12 and a second retainer 40pivotally mounted on the first shell 12. A pivot 30 is arranged betweenthe first shell 12 and the second shell 20 for pivoting the second shell20 with respect to the first shell 12. Two pivots 30 are arrangedbetween the first shell 12 and the second retainer 40 for pivoting thesecond retainer 40 relative to the first shell 12.

[0016] The first shell 12 includes two semi-lugs 14 formed on a side andtwo semi-lugs 14 formed on an opposite side. One of the semi-lugs 14defines a semi-circular cutout 141 while the remaining ones of thesemi-lugs 14 define a slit 142.

[0017] The first retainer 11 includes various recesses 16 definedtherein for retaining different tools of a tool kit. The first retainer11 includes two semi-lugs 15 formed on a side and two semi-lugs 15formed on an opposite side. One of the semi-lugs 15 defines asemi-circular cutout 151 while the remaining ones of the semi-lugs 15define a slit 152.

[0018] When the first retainer 11 is secured to the first shell 12, thesemi-lugs 14 match the semi-lugs 15 so that the semi-circular cutouts141 and 151 together make a circular hole for receiving a stud 211projecting from the second shell 20 and that each slit 142 and acorresponding slit 152 together make a slot for receiving a ridges 311formed on one of the pivots 30.

[0019] Each of the pivots 30 includes a first cylinder 31, a secondcylinder 32 and a torque element 33. The torque element 33 is a springin the preferred embodiment. The first cylinder 31 includes a closedend. A ridge 311 is formed on an external side of the closed end of thefirst cylinder 31. A clip 312 is formed on an internal side of theclosed end of the first cylinder 31. The second cylinder 32 includes aclosed end. A ridge 321 is formed on an external side of the closed endof the second cylinder 32. A clip 322 is formed on an internal side ofthe closed end of the second cylinder 32. The torque element 33 isreceived in the first cylinder 31 so that a first end of the torqueelement 33 is clamped by means of the clip 312. The first cylinder 31and the torque element 33 are received in the second cylinder 32 so thata second end of the torque element 33 is clamped by means of the clip322.

[0020] The second shell 20 includes a cylindrical portion 21 formed onan edge. The cylindrical portion 21 includes a closed end and an openend. A boss 211 extends from the closed end of the cylindrical portion21. A slit 213 is defined in a plate 212 formed on an internal side ofthe cylindrical portion 21. The boss 211 is inserted in the circularhole consisting of the semi-circular cutouts 141 and 151. One of thepivots 30 is inserted in the cylindrical portion 21 so that the ridge321 is received in the slot 213. The ridge 311 of this pivot 30 isreceived in one of the slots consisting of the slits 142 and 152. Thus,the second shell 20 is pivotally mounted on the first shell 12 by meansof the boss 211 and a pivot 30 that is arranged between the first shell12 and the second retainer 40.

[0021] The first shell 12 includes a semi-lug 120 formed on the firstside. The first retainer 11 includes a semi-lug 110 formed on an edge.The second retainer 40 includes two cylindrical portions 41 formed on anedge. Each of the cylindrical portions 41 includes a closed end. A boss44 extends from the closed end of each of the cylindrical portions 41.When the first retainer 11 is secured to the first shell 12, thesemi-lugs 110 and 120 together make a lug with two open ends forreceiving the bosses 44 so that the second retainer 40 is pivotallymounted on the first shell 12. The second retainer 40 defines variousrecesses 43 for receiving different tools.

[0022] A slot 421 is defined in a plate 42 formed on an internal side ofeach of the cylindrical portions 41. One of the pivots 30 is inserted inone of the cylindrical portions 41 so that the ridge 321 is received inthe slot 421. The ridge 311 of one of the pivots 30 is received in oneof the slots consisting of the slits 142 and 152. Thus, two pivots 30are arranged between the first shell 12 and the second retainer 40.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 7, when the shells 12 and 20, the retainers 11and 40 and the pivots 30 are assembled, the second retainer 40 ispositioned from the first shell 12 by an angle between 90° and 180°, andthe second shell 20 is positioned from the first shell 12 by an anglebetween 180° and 36°. The second retainer 40 can be pivoted so as to beagainst the first shell 12, and the second shell 20 can be pivoted so asto be against the second retainer 40, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, thetorque elements 33 of the pivots 30 are twisted and torque is introducedinto them. The torque will pivot the second shell 20 and the secondretainer 40 relative to the first shell 12 to the position shown in FIG.7. FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the self-opening toolbox in two differentpositions between the locked position shown in FIG. 1 and the completelyextended position shown in FIG. 7.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, a locking device is used to keep theself-opening toolbox locked. The locking device includes a latch 132mounted on the first shell 12 and a hook 221 formed on the second shell20 for engagement with the latch 132. The latch 132 is made as anextension from a button 13. An elastic element 131 includes an endsecured to the semi-lug 120 and an opposite end secured to the button13. The elastic element 131 is a spring in the preferred embodiment. Thebutton 13 is accessible through a hole 111 defined in the semi-lug 110.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, the button 13 can be pressed so as todisengage the latch 132 from the hook 221 so that the self-openingtoolbox can be opened.

[0026] The present invention has been described through detailedillustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art canderive many variations from the preferred embodiment without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferredembodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention. The scopeof the present invention is defined in the attached claims.

1. A self-opening toolbox including a first shell (12), a second shell(20) pivotally mounted on the first shell (12), a retainer (11) mountedon the first shell (12) for retaining a tool kit and a pivot (30)arranged between the first shell (12) and the second shell (20) forpivoting the second shell (20) relatve to the first shell (12).
 2. Theself-opening toolbox according to claim 1 wherein the pivot (30)includes a first cylinder (31) connected with the first shell (12), asecond cylinder (32) connected with the second shell (20) and a torqueelement (33) connected between the first and second cylinders (31, 32).3. The self-opening toolbox according to claim 2 wherein the torqueelement (33) is received in the first cylinder (31) and the firstcylinder (31) is received in the second cylinder (32).
 4. Theself-opening toolbox according to claim 2 wherein the first cylinder(31) includes a closed end and a clip (312) formed on an internal sideof the closed end for clamping an end of the torque element (33).
 5. Theself-opening toolbox according to claim 2 wherein the second cylinder(32) includes a closed end and a clip (322) formed on an internal sideof the closed end for clamping an end of the torque element (33).
 6. Theself-opening toolbox according to claim 2 wherein the first cylinder(31) includes a closed end and a ridge (311) formed on an external sideof the closed end, and the first shell (12) defines a slot (142) forreceiving the ridge (311).
 7. The self-opening toolbox according toclaim 6 wherein the first shell (12) includes a semi-lug (14) that isformed thereon and defines a slit (142), and the retainer (11) includesa semi-lug (15) that is formed thereon and defines a slit (152), and theslit (142) defined in the semi-lug (14) of the first shell (12) and theslit (152) defined in the semi-lug (15) of the retainer (11) togethermake a slot for receiving the ridge (311).
 8. The self-opening toolboxaccording to claim 2 wherein the second cylinder (32) includes a closedend and a ridge (321) formed on an external side of the closed end, andthe second shell (20) defines a slot (213) for receiving the ridge (321)formed on the second cylinder (32).
 9. The self-opening toolboxaccording to claim 8 wherein the second shell (20) includes a plate(212) that is formed thereon and defines a slot (213) for receiving theridge (321) formed on the second cylinder (32) of the pivot (30). 10.The self-opening toolbox according to claim 1 wherein the second shell(20) includes a boss (211) formed thereon, and the first shell (12)includes a semi-lug (14) that is formed thereon and defines asemi-circular cutout (141), and the retainer (11) includes a semi-lug(15) that is formed thereon and defines a semi-circular cutout (151),and the semi-circular cutout (141) defined in the semi-lug (14) formedon the first shell (12) and the semi-circular cutout (151) defined inthe semi-lug (15) formed on the retainer (11) together make a circularhole for receiving the boss (211) extending from the second shell (20).11. The self-opening toolbox according to claim 1 including a lockingdevice for keeping the self-opening toolbox locked.
 12. The self-openingtoolbox according to claim 11 wherein the locking device includes alatch (132) mounted on the first shell (12) and a hook (221) formed onthe second shell (20) for engagement with the latch (132).
 13. Theself-opening toolbox according to claim 12 wherein the locking deviceincludes a button (13) from which the latch (132) extends and an elasticelement (131) including an end secured to the first shell (12) and anopposite end secured to the button (13), wherein the button (13) can bepressed so as to disengage the latch (132) from the hook (221).
 14. Theself-opening toolbox according to claim 1 including a second retainer(40) pivotally mounted on the first shell (12) for retaining a tool kitin position.
 15. The self-opening toolbox according to claim 9 includinga second pivot (30) arranged between the first shell (12) and the secondretainer (40) for pivoting the second retainer (40) relative to thefirst shell (12).
 16. The self-opening toolbox according to claim 15wherein the second pivot (30) includes a first cylinder (31) connectedwith the first shell (12), a second cylinder (32) connected with thesecond retainer (40) and a torque element (33) connected between thefirst and second cylinders (31, 32).
 17. The self-opening toolboxaccording to claim 16 wherein the second cylinder (31) includes a closedend and a clip (312) formed on an internal side of the closed end forclamping an end of the torque element (33).
 18. The self-opening toolboxaccording to claim 16 wherein the second cylinder (32) includes a closedend and a clip (322) formed on an internal side of the closed end forclamping an end of the torque element (33).
 19. The self-opening toolboxaccording to claim 16 wherein the first cylinder (31) includes a closedend and a ridge (311) formed on an external side of the closed end, andthe first shell (12) defines a slot (142) for receiving the ridge (311).20. The self-opening toolbox according to claim 16 wherein the secondcylinder (32) includes a closed end and a ridge (321) formed on anexternal side of the closed end, and the second shell (20) defines aslot (213) for receiving the ridge (321).